Owned by the City of New York, the High Line is a public park maintained, operated, and programmed by Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Photo of the Week: Winter Wildlife

By Erika HarveyJanuary 18, 2013

A Northern Mockingbird discovers delicious berries on the High Line’s winter landscape. Photo by Matt MacGillivray

High Line Flickr Pool contributor Matt MacGillivray captured this stunning photo of a Northern Mockingbird feeding on the vibrant red berries of Red Sprite winterberry holly, Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite.’ An enthusiastic bird photographer, Matt was thrilled to spot Mockingbirds during his visit to the High Line earlier this month.

Winterberry holly is just one of many plants in the High Line’s winter landscape that offers a food source for overwintering birds. Other evergreen fruit-bearing plants like Dan Fenton American holly, Ilex opaca ‘Dan Fenton,’ and Emerald Sentinel eastern red cedar, Juniperus virgiana ‘Corcorcor,’ attract birds during the colder months of the year when omnivorous species like Northern Mockingbirds do not have insects to eat. You’ll also find birds scavenging for seeds off of the dried stalks and seed heads of many of the park’s grasses.

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Friends of the High Line raises 98% of the High Line’s annual budget.
Owned by the City of New York, the High Line is a public park maintained, operated, and programmed by Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.